The Unified Command Plan establishes the missions and geographic responsibilities among the combatant commanders.

Commanders' Areas of Responsibility

Unified Command Plan 2011

The Department of Defense updated the Unified Command Plan, a key strategic document that establishes the missions, responsibilities, and geographic areas of responsibility for commanders of combatant commands. UCP 2011, signed by President Obama on April 6, 2011, assigns several new missions to the combatant commanders.

Every two years, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is required to review the missions, responsibilities, and geographical boundaries of each combatant command and recommend to the President, through the Secretary of Defense, any changes that may be necessary.

Significant changes made by UCP 2011 include:

Shifting AOR boundaries in the Arctic region to leverage long-standing relationships and improve unity of effort.

Giving U.S. Northern Command responsibility to advocate for Arctic capabilities.

Codifying the President's approval to disestablish U.S. Joint Forces Command.